Lyon seems content in handing the Twins this ballgame - 2 wild pitches to get Span from 1st to 3rd, giving up a single to Cabrera for his first hit of the game, then walking Mauer
Twins Chances
- Thread starter hobbsfan27
- Start date
Really? Couldn't watch the game. Nathan seems to be a little off for the past month or so. Not a good thing, thank goodness the Twins managed to get that 2nd run in the 10th. You don't want to have to play many more innings when you've got another game tonight.
The Tigers missed a golden opportunity to stick a fork in the Twins. Now the Twins have a chance to gain the upper hand. They are still alive even if Verlander gets the best of Duensing tonight. I'm by no means writing off Duensing. He has ice in his veins which just might pay off tonight.
Nathan had not pitched in a game since Wednesday. He usually seems to do better when he is getting more regular work in. Hopefully, that home run shakes the rust off.
Didn't understand Gardy's move in the top of the 9th. You have a runner on 3rd, one out, and your top of the lineup coming up after Punto, so why not take a chance and let him hit away? The suicide seemed very risky to me.....because if Punto misses, then where are you? Runner is dead meat, and you have 2 outs. Of course, what Punto did was even worse, but why not try to get at least a sacrifice fly?
Didn't understand Gardy's move in the top of the 9th. You have a runner on 3rd, one out, and your top of the lineup coming up after Punto, so why not take a chance and let him hit away? The suicide seemed very risky to me.....because if Punto misses, then where are you? Runner is dead meat, and you have 2 outs. Of course, what Punto did was even worse, but why not try to get at least a sacrifice fly?
Because it's Nick Punto. He is usually a good bunter and has been working the whole season on not hitting the ball in the air.
The call was the right one IMO, just poorly executed!
There was absolutely no doubt that Gardy was going to have little nicky squeeze in that situation. He's been waiting for so many years to make that call, I'm surprised that he didn't wet his pants. Obviously Leyland knew it also and the up and in pitch was a good counter.
It didn't work, but the Twins dodged enough bullets to win despite a poor RISP average. I'm not usually a big fan of small ball, but they did manufacture enough runs today to walk away with a win.
Tonight's game is huge. If the Twins find a way to beat Verlander, I think they take the division.
What a performance by Blackburn. Very shaky first 3 innings, but only gave up the 1 run and retired the last 12 batters he faced.
Just got home from the game. I think it may have been the right call, but not on the first pitch. See how the Tigers defend it first, make them show their cards.
Fortunately for the Twins, with the exception of Baker, Duensing has probably been the best pitcher on this staff for the last 2-3 months. I think when most Twins fans heard earlier this season he was being moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation there was a collective groaning and hoping that he would not look as foolish out there. Little did we know he would solve one of the holes in the rotation the way he has, and I'm thinking he may just have earned a spot in the rotation next season.
From what I can tell Punto is the best bunter on the team. Had I actually watched the game (instead of observing on ESPN's GameCast) I would have called that one a mile away. If I was able to call it, Leyland, who's a hell of a lot more baseball-smart than I am, was obviously going to see it coming. Considering it was Punto batting and the situation, I still think it was the right call. Fortunately for the Tigers, he popped it up.
You may not be a fan of it, but it's signature Twins baseball under Gardy. They're not called "The Piranhas" for nothing...
Agreed. Early on I thought we were going to see "post-All Star Break" Blackburn in this game. But instead of giving in like he would have earlier this season, he battled his way to another quality start. He deserved the win, but unfortunately for him the runs came well after he was pulled from the ballgame. I'll take another 3 starts like his the rest of this series.
Tooting my horn... :yes:
Just saw an interview with Gardy. Not word for word but:
Can't wait to catch a quick power nap and head back down to the ballpark tonight!
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